Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Stitching the Felt Ornaments


In the pause before the cookstorm, I am doing some hand-sewing, finishing up this set of felt ornaments. Like others who were little girls in the seventies, I'm fascinated by ornate felt ornaments after seeing my mother's creations. Back then they used bright acrylic felt, glue, sequins, and bright gold braid. This time around the fashion is for real wool and patient embroidery.

Patience is indeed called for, as on more than one occasion I've had to remind myself that I'm making these *for fun*. Having fun. Just a reminder, that's all.

I did the pink cup of cocoa first, because if you live at my house, you understand the importance of a big pink cup of cocoa, first thing.

And I'm bringing gingerbread girl over the home plate tonight. Then wrapping them up and enjoying Thanksgiving.

20 comments:

SF said...

Oh Anna, they are just beautiful. :)I love the little gingerbread girl.

I won't let my little girl see this, or I just know she'll beg me to make them! And not only am I lacking in the patience department when it comes to craft, I'm lacking in the skill! Hats off to you. :D xx

Polly said...

Love those ornament patterns! I know just what you mean about the patience. A few years ago I bought my hard-to-buy-for-husband the exact same original 1970s felt advent calender (thank you, ebay!) that his mother put up every year when they were children, and continues to put up to this day. Two dozen teensy tiny ornaments, complete with, yes, sequins...gold braids...teensy beads....

My mother-in-law and I duplicated the pattern and then spent a year painstakingly stitching the original I'd purchased (for my husband) plus our copies for his three siblings and their families, plus another to have as a spare. His brothers and sister were thrilled! It was so much work, but worth it. Viva la retro decor!

Mary @ Neat and Tidy said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Anna.

I've so enjoyed the inspiration from your blog.

Lisa said...

Very pretty, Anna! And Polly - what a wonderful idea for your husband's family.

Lisateresa

Laura said...

Hi Anna. Thank you for another lovely photo to start my day. So glad you decided to return to your blog. I share your love of felt ornaments and all things Alicia Paulson. Happy Thanksgiving!

Anonymous said...

Hey! I have that ornament kit! :-)

When I sit down to make them, I'll try to remember even your patience was tested. Maybe before I start, I'll tape a message above my desk: "Have Fun".

Suzanne said...

I have made all of Alicia's ornament kits--I just love them. But your right, it is a bit of fussy work and patience is definitely a virtue when stitching these up:-) Happy Thanksgiving!

Kathryn said...

I love Alicia's work, her new book is full of beautiful embroidery patterns. Your ornaments looks lovely!

kath said...

Oh wow. Beautiful! I think I just found my next travel project!

walklet said...

You are doing a great job on those! I passed on buying them because they looked so tedious -- just what 'Posie' as I call her excels at! I'm more of a machine sewing girl. BTW, love my bag I bought from you, I'm using it to carry my things to BSF (I did shorten it a bit :-) Wendy

Julian said...

thoes are so beautiful! Wow!
happy holidays,
christina

Garnet said...

Oh, these are wonderful! I absolutely love felt and felt ornaments and all kinds of felt crafts. I recently found on E-Bay a copy of the felt Christmas stocking my Aunt made for me when I was a baby. I originally got it to be able to replace some of this pieces that had fallen off mine, but now my daughter wants me to make it for her. Off to look around this new-to-me website.

Hana - Marmota said...

"I did the pink cup of cocoa first, because if you live at my house, you understand the importance of a big pink cup of cocoa, first thing."
One more explanation of why I'm drawn to your blog! Although my cup would be blue, but that's a minor difference.

The felt ornaments are so beautiful and home-y. Living in the Czech Republic, I've never experienced felt ornaments, but they make as much sense as the Czech straw ornaments do. It's just, really, so home-y.

Elizabeth said...

Beautiful, Anna. I still have my felt dove ornament that my third grade teacher gave me for Christmas. It was wrapped in white tissue paper as so many gifts in the seventies seemed to be. Such wonderful memories.

Cynthia said...

They are lovely! Just curious, do you make your own hot cocoa? I would love your recipe, if you do.

Anna said...

In a mug, stir together 1 heaping teaspoon cocoa, 2 teaspoons sugar, and a dash of milk. When sort of smooth, fill mug with milk. Heat in the microwave until it's hot enough (Daisy doesn't go for very hot). Stir til smooth and stick in a straw.

Kate at Wonderful Life Farm said...

Lovely ornaments! I had such fond memories of my own mother's felt ornaments (from the 70's) that I made a set of my own for my hope chest (in the 80's). And my own children just love them, even though I'm thinking they look pretty tired out. Maybe I need to make some fine wool ones? Thanks for the updated inspiration!

Jennifer said...

Lovely felt ornaments!
Gives me ideas~thanks

Kerrie said...

I just love felt ornaments! I still hang some on the tree that my Mom made many, many years ago. They are a little bedraggled now, but I love them still.

Anne of the grey submarine said...

Mrs. Anna
I have enjoyed taking a peep and your blog every few months when time has presented itself.
The crafty ideas are quite a delight from which to reap ideas.
Thank you for your example of a virtuous woman.
~Anna Grace

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